SAWIA S O U T H E R N A F R I C A N W O M E N I N AV I AT I O N & A E R O S PA C E I N D U S T RY
I N F O R M . C O N N E C T . M O T I VAT E . I N S P I R E
AVIATRIX PROFILES 3 AUGUST 2012 THE SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE
WOMEN IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN AIR FORCE AFTER THE SECOND WORLD WAR The end of the Second World War led to the disbandment of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force, the last women’s camp at Valhalla being closed on 1 April 1947. The majority of women returned to civilian life, but a nucleus of former members stayed on and were accommodated in the Women’s Auxiliary Defence Corps and utilized in the Air Force. The Women’s Defence Corps was established on 28 November 1947. Regulations however made severe distinctions between members of the WDC and male members of the Permanent Force, the most demeaning regulation was one concerning seniority – “Precedence: – Male members of the Force take precedence over those of the WDC of the same rank, irrespective of the date of appointment or promotion to the rank.” By early 1949 the Air Force had four officers and thirty other ranks in the WDC. On the 9th of May 1949 the decision was made that the recruiting of women for the WDC Permanent Force is to cease. This was the beginning of a gradual phasing out of women in the Permanent Force. The WDC however remained for nearly two decades longer and was only disbanded on 1 May 1971, when women were permitted to join the Permanent Force. The Civil Defence College in George was established in 1970 and to be able to train young women, an organization had to be created that would be “manned” by Permanent Force
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women. Seven women were recruited for this purpose in 1970, the most senior being Cmdt Hilda Botha (SA Army). No provision was made at this stage for the use of women anywhere else in the Permanent Force. The first intake of 128 single young women started their training at the Civil Defence College (later known as the SA Army Women’s College) on 1 February 1971. About a third of these women indicated that they would like to join the Permanent Force and the College became the recruiting source for the South African Defence Force. In 1973 three candidate officers (Adie Horn, Nancy Jennings and Annette Eloff) and five airmen (L. Muir, H.C.A. Heunis, H.P.J. Barnard, E.E. Swanepoel, H.C. Breytenbach) were recruited in the Air Force, all had completed their initial training at the SA Army Women’s College at George. On 3 October 1972 the Minister of Defence decided that women could be recruited for direct entry into the Arms of the Services but that they would first be required to undertake the Arm of Service’s basic training. On 19 January 1974 the first direct intake of 33 Air Force women in the Permanent Force started their basic training at AFB Waterkloof. A number of the initial intake continued to serve in the Air Force for many years and rose to senior positions. Subsequent yearly intakes yielded a similar amount of members that rose through the ranks. Basic or Regimental Training for women were eventually moved from Waterkloof to the SAAF Gymnasium in Valhalla during 1976. Women from these subsequent intakes were utilized effectively in the various SAAF musterings e.g. Command & Control (Air Traffic Controllers, Mission Controllers), Personnel & Finance Functionaries, Supply & Support etc. Women selected to become Air Hostesses aboard SAAF VIP transport aircraft were for many years, the only selected females that could then be identified as part of an aircrew, albeit in a non combat role. In the late 1980’s consideration was given to training of women as pilots. Socio-political pressure in most western nations brought about the introduction of equal opportunities for women in the military and the armed forces moved cautiously forward and began training women in combat aircrew roles. In order to adhere to the Equal Opportunity policy, the Air Force embarked on a program to train women aircrew members. The first woman flight engineer commenced her flying training in 1995, followed by the recruiting of the first group of women for training as SAAF pilots during the same year.
The first five women to qualify as pilots in the South African Air Force received their wings at Central Flying School at AFB Langebaanweg on 11 December 1997. They were Lisl Bennett, Renét Venter, Kerryn Swemmer, Tanya Livingstone and Velma Scholz. The Air Force Museum recently created a special exhibit on this theme and is always keen to expand on its content. Women that served during the era are welcome to visit and view the exhibition and to consider donating items of interest or historical value to the museum at Swartkop. CONTACT: Research Officer, Captain Leon Steyn at 012 351 2282 or 2290 for more information. SOURCE: ww.saafmuseum.org
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The SAAF is the second oldest Air Force in the world, after the Royal Air Force, but it was only in 1995 that the first women were selected for pilot training in the SAAF. Ten women were selected but before training started, three fell out as their final Matric Maths exam results did not meet the required standard and one woman decided to go to university first. The six who started training were Renét Venter, Lisl Bennett, Tanya Livingston, Velma Scholz, Kerryn Swemmer and Francis (Frankie) Bester. Lisl, Tanya, Karin and Francis started their training in early 1996, first going through the SAAF’s 3-month basic training course at the Air Force Gymnasium before going on to the Candidate Officer’s course at the Air Force College. Renét and Velma had already completed their basics. Five of them completed the full training and earned their wings in December 1997. Lisl (24), Renét (21), Kerryn (24), Tanya (24) and Velma (24) received their wings at a wings parade at CFS Langebaanweg. They were part of 43 pupils to receive their training on the Pilatus PC7 MkII Astra.
LISL BENNETT Lisl Bennett was 13 years old when she decided to become a pilot. Her 17th birthday present from her father was a flight in a Cessna, which was meant to scare her off flying lessons. In 1995 she graduated from Wits University with a degree in aeronautical engineering and was honoured as the top engineering student. When she joined the SAAF in 1996, she already had her private pilot’s licence and 95 flying hours. After her Candidate Officer’s course in July 1996, she was the top academic student, obtaining an average of 88%. Eighty-two students completed the course. Lisl became the first female instructor on the Pilatus PC7 Astra and the Alouette III helicopter. She went on to become the chief ground instructor at 87 Helicopter Flying School, AFB Bloemspruit. She was also part of the SAAF’s purchase project for the Augusta A109M helicopter. In 2003 she earned her Master’s degree in aeronautical technology from the University of
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Kingston in England. Lisl was one of 18 pilots who took the Royal Air Force Aerosystems course from September 2000 to July 2001. She was the only South African student, the youngest and most junior in rank. She passed with an 83% average, placing her in the top seven students. Lisl is the daughter of Chris Bennett and Mrs. Marion Taite. She has two sisters, Tania and Kirsten. She grew up in Somerset West and Stellenbosch, and matriculated in Boksburg. To relax she reads or does martial arts.
RENÉT VENTER Renét Venter is from Sannieshof and joined the SAAF after matriculating.
KERRYN SWEMMER Kerryn Swemmer is from Benoni and earned a BSc from Wits University before joining the SAAF. She had a private pilot’s licence obtained in her Matric year. Her father used to fly privately and she started flying at 16. After school, she could not get into the SAAF or find a flying job, so she went to Wits. By the time she had graduated, the SAAF was open to female pilots. She flew the Oryx and Alouette helicopters in the SAAF. After leaving the SAAF, she spent some time flying the Hunter’s Gold helicopter as well as operating tourist flights out of the V&A Waterfront, and doing traffic reports for Kfm. Kerryn also spent some time flying in West Africa. She became the first female helicopter pilot to join the South African Red Cross Air Mercy Service in 2001, first on a full-time basis and recently on a part-time basis. She has flown more than 700 mercy flights. Kerryn currently flies for SA Express.
TANYA LIVINGSTON Tanya Livingston is a former Zimbabwean who lived in Amanzimtoti before joining the SAAF. She has a degree in sports management. She spent eight years as a parttime crew member of the John Rolfe rescue helicopter. Tanya (33) was recently made a Superintendent when she was appointed as a SAPS Air Wing helicopter pilot in Nelspruit. After her training in Langebaanweg she went to Bloemspruit for the Rotor Wing Conversion course. She did her training on Alouettes for three months, followed by a three-month Oryx Conversion course. Tanya spent two years at 15 Squadron as a co-pilot. She also qualified as a BK117 commander. After Durban, she was transferred to 17 Squadron in Pretoria, and later to 19 Squadron in Hoedspruit. Tanya was the first female pilot doing duty in Burundi. She has more than 2 000 flying hours and left the SAAF with the rank of Major.
VELMA SCHOLZ Velma Scholz is from Swakopmund in Namibia. She was part of the helicopter rescue efforts during the Mozambique floods in 2001. After leaving the SAAF, she joined the SAPS Air Wing in August 2001, becoming the first female pilot there. SOURCE: http://ancestry24.com/history-in-the-making/
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